Attitude of Grace-itude

Last night I blogged about giving thanks at this time of year. Minutes later I was feeling a little less grateful. As I tucked myself in bed, I decided my attitude might be a result of my day. Here’s a thumbnail sketch:

6:20 a.m.: Bound out of bed to get to the TV by 6:30

6:30 a.m.: Work out with Denise Austin….big mistake! I put my hip out and reactivated my carpel tunnel in my right hand. (Note: Sleep in tomorrow and switch back to working out with Leslie Sansone on Thursday!)

7:00 a.m.: Read the entire book of Hebrews and the first 3 chapters of James. (I was a bit behind in my “read through the NT in a year” schedule, as the Timothys kept me longer for some indepth work, than I had planned.) Really heard God speaking to me in Hebrews though…way cool!

9:00- 10:00 a.m.: School with kids….got them set for some independent work

10:00 a.m.: Ran to hairdresser for a long-overdue haircut!!

10:45 a.m.: Back home and ready for more school. Worked with kids until 12. Trying to cram 2 days worth of work into one day!

12:00 p.m.:Lunch for 4. Finalized grocery list while I ate a salad. Finished up school with kids.

1:30 p.m.: Left for Walmart to buy Tgiving groceries. Lord help me! Not only was it Tuesday (aka Geriatric Day at Walmart) the place was also packed with other last minute shoppers. Trip took 1/2 hour longer than usual.

3:00 p.m.: Home again. Took thirty minutes just to unload all the loot!

3:30 p.m.: Started supper. Fixed family’s favorite…which is time consuming.

5:30 p.m. Fed family.

6:00 p.m.: Left to pick up girlfriend for supper

6:00-9:00: Enjoyed catching up with a good friend. (Thanks, Laurie!)

9:00 p.m.: Home again to straighten house, answer emails, blog, research Fruit of the Spirit for 2 new talks, take a bath…and do the dishes that the family left for me on the counter!!! (That’s when the attitude of gratitude went out the door.)

11:00 p.m.: Fell into bed and replayed this day in my head.

Here’s the deal…I share this with you not to gain sympathy..although that would be nice. 🙂 In truth, most of my days look like this, only worse. After I wrote my last blog about being thankful, it occurred to me that it sounds all nice to rattle off the things we are thankful for at this time of year. Ah, tradition. However, in the daily-ness of life, gratitude is often a deliberate choice we have to make. It doesn’t always come naturally. It looks more like grace than gratefulness. I do the things I do because I love my family and my Lord, and He has called me to do these things.

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:15

Friends, at this Thanksgiving, I pray that you will not only be filled with attitudes of gratitude, but of grace-itude. May the Grace of God be with you. Happy Thanksgiving!